The 2012–13 Liga MX season was the 66th professional top-flight football league season in Mexico, and the first under the league's current identity as "Liga MX". The season was split into two competitions: the Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura—each of identical format and contested by the same eighteen teams.
Clubs Eighteen teams participated in the season. Estudiantes Tecos was relegated to the Liga de Ascenso after accumulating the lowest coefficient over the past three consecutive seasons, ending its 36-year stay in the league. León was promoted, and as the winner of the 2011–12 Liga de Ascenso season, León returned to the top flight after being relegated 10 years earlier.
Stadiums and locations ClubHome CityStadiumCapacityAméricaMexico CityAzteca105,000AtlanteCancúnAndrés Quintana Roo20,000AtlasGuadalajaraJalisco63,200ChiapasTuxtla GutiérrezVíctor Manuel Reyna31,500Cruz AzulMexico CityEstadio Azul35,000GuadalajaraGuadalajaraOmnilife49,850LeónLeón, GuanajuatoLeón33,943MonterreyMonterreyTecnológico38,000MoreliaMoreliaMorelos35,000PachucaPachuca, HidalgoHidalgo30,000PueblaPueblaCuauhtémoc48,650QuerétaroQuerétaroLa Corregidora36,500San LuisSan Luis PotosíAlfonso Lastras Ramírez24,000Santos LagunaTorreónCorona30,000TijuanaTijuanaCaliente21,000TolucaTolucaNemesio Díez27,000UANLSan NicolásUniversitario42,000UNAMMexico CityOlímpico Universitario63,000
Personnel and kits TeamManagerKit manufacturerShirt sponsorAmérica Miguel HerreraNikeBimbo, Coca-ColaAtlante Daniel GuzmánGarcisRiviera Maya, Cancún, ADO, Grupo PegasoAtlas Tomás BoyAtleticaLubricantes Akron, Coca-ColaChiapas José Guadalupe CruzJomaBoing!, Seguro Popular, XL-3, Banco AztecaCruz Azul Guillermo VázquezUmbroCemento Cruz Azul, Coca-ColaGuadalajara Benjamín GalindoadidasBimboLeón Gustavo MatosasPirmaCaja Popular Mexicana, Coca-ColaMonterrey Víctor Manuel VucetichNikeBimbo, BBVA BancomerMorelia Carlos BustosNikeRoshfrans, CinépolisPachuca Gabriel CaballeroNikeGamesa, Mobil Super, ADO, NextelPuebla Manuel LapuenteFranja SportVolkswagen, Coca-ColaQuerétaro Ignacio AmbrízPirma/AtleticaLibertad Servicios Financieros, Boing!San Luis Gerardo SilvaPirmaCaja Popular Mexicana, Coca-ColaSantos Laguna Pedro CaixinhaPumaSoriana, Peñoles, Pepsi, LalaTijuana Antonio MohamedNikeCalienteToluca Enrique MezaUnder ArmourBanamexUANL Ricardo FerrettiadidasCemex, Cemento MonterreyUNAM Juan Antonio TorresPumaBanamex
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in tablePre-Apertura changesGuadalajara Alberto CoyoteEnd of tenure as caretakerApril 23, 2012 John Van't SchipApril 23, 201215thSan Luis Sergio BuenoResignedApril 29, 2012 José Luis TrejoMay 23, 201216thUNAM Guillermo VázquezMutual consentMay 9, 2012 Joaquín del OlmoMay 25, 201213thPachuca Efraín FloresMutual consentMay 9, 2012 Hugo SánchezMay 15, 20126thMorelia Tomás BoyMutual consentMay 15, 2012 Rubén Omar RomanoMay 21, 20124thCruz Azul Enrique MezaMutual consentMay 15, 2012 Guillermo VázquezMay 24, 20129thAtlante José Luis González ChinaEnd of tenure as caretakerMay 16, 2012 Ricardo La VolpeMay 16, 201214thToluca Wilson GraniolattiSackedMay 17, 2012 Enrique MezaMay 18, 201210thQuerétaro Ángel ComizzoSackedMay 21, 2012 Carlos de los CobosMay 21, 201217thApertura changesPuebla Daniel BartolottaSackedAugust 17, 2012 Carlos Muñoz CoboAugust 17, 201217thPuebla Carlos Muñoz CoboEnd of tenure as caretakerAugust 21, 2012 Daniel GuzmánAugust 22, 201217thAtlas Juan Carlos ChávezMutual consentAugust 27, 2012 Rubén DuarteAugust 27, 201211thSan Luis José Luis TrejoSackedAugust 27, 2012 Alex AguinagaAugust 27, 201217thUNAM Joaquín del OlmoSackedAugust 28, 2012 Juan Antonio TorresAugust 28, 201212thAtlas Rubén DuarteEnd of tenure as caretakerAugust 30, 2012 Tomás BoyAugust 30, 201211thUNAM Juan Antonio TorresEnd of tenure as caretakerAugust 31, 2012 Mario CarrilloSeptember 1, 20129thQuerétaro Carlos de los CobosSackedSeptember 4, 2012 Sergio BuenoSeptember 4, 201218thUNAM Mario CarrilloSackedOctober 28, 2012 Juan Antonio TorresOctober 30, 201211thPuebla Daniel GuzmánResignedOctober 30, 2012 Carlos PobleteOctober 30, 201216thPre-Clausura changesPachuca Hugo SánchezSackedNovember 15, 2012 Gabriel CaballeroNovember 15, 201213thSantos Laguna Benjamín GalindoSackedNovember 15, 2012 Pedro CaixinhaNovember 20, 20129thSan Luis Alex AguinagaSackedNovember 15, 2012 Eduardo FentanesNovember 20, 201215thPuebla Carlos PobleteEnd of tenure as caretakerDecember 7, 2012 Manuel LapuenteDecember 7, 201216thGuadalajara John Van't SchipSackedJanuary 2, 2013 Benjamín GalindoJanuary 2, 20139thClausura changesAtlante Ricardo La VolpeLeft due to health issuesJanuary 28, 2013 Daniel GuzmánJanuary 29, 201315thQuerétaro Sergio BuenoSackedFebruary 4, 2013 Ignacio AmbrizFebruary 4, 201314thMorelia Rubén Omar RomanoSackedFebruary 18, 2013 Carlos BustosFebruary 18, 201311thSan Luis Eduardo FentanesSackedFebruary 18, 2013 Carlos María MoralesFebruary 18, 201318thSan Luis Carlos María MoralesResignedMarch 12, 2013 Gerardo SilvaMarch 12, 201318th
Torneo Apertura The 2012 Apertura was the opening competition of the season. The regular season began on July 20, 2012, and ended on November 11, 2012. The Liguilla tournament began on November 14, 2012, and ended on December 2, 2012. Santos Laguna had been successful in defending their title since 2009.
Regular phase League table
Results
Top goalscorers Players ranked by goals scored, then alphabetically by last name. Rank Player Club Goals1 Christian BenítezAmérica11 Esteban ParedesAtlante113 Nelson Sebastián MazLeón8 Luis Gabriel ReyChiapas8 Duvier RiascosTijuana8 Miguel SabahMorelia87 Mariano PavoneCruz Azul7 Carlos QuinteroSantos Laguna79 Matías BritosLeón6 Alfredo MorenoTijuana6 Héctor MancillaAtlas6 Rafael Marquez LugoGuadalajara6 Carlos PeñaLeón6 Humberto SuazoMonterrey6 Luis TejadaToluca6
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Alberto Acosta UANL UNAM 5–0 October 20, 2012 Christian Benítez América Pachuca 4–0 November 3, 2012
Final phase
Bracket
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Finals
Notes If the two teams are tied after both legs, the higher seeded team advances. Both finalists qualify to the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League (champion in Pot A, runner-up in Pot B).
Torneo Clausura The 2013 Clausura is the second and final competition of the season. The regular season began on January 4, 2013. Tijuana were defending their inaugural champion title.
Regular phase League table
Results
Top goalscorers As of May 5, 2013. Source LigaMX.net – Estadística – Tabla de Goleo IndividualPlayers ranked by goals scored, then alphabetically by last name. Pos Player Club Goals1 Christian BenítezAmérica172 Héctor MancillaMorelia123 Mariano PavoneCruz Azul124 Raúl JiménezAmérica105 Emmanuel VillaUANL97 Lucas LobosUANL8 Oribe PeraltaSantos Laguna89 Félix BorjaPuebla7 Javier CortésUNAM7 Rafael Márquez LugoGuadalajara7
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Emanuel Villa UANL Chiapas 3–0 January 5, 2013 Christian Benítez América Cruz Azul 3–0 March 2, 2013 Christian Benítez América Pachuca 4–2 April 27, 2013 Mariano Pavone Cruz Azul Monterrey 5–1 May 4, 2013
Final phase
Bracket
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Finals
Relegation TeamRelegation1Cruz Azul3926292526291741022UANL2435283121351741023Santos Laguna3023273623291681024Morelia2131263127301661025América2726153231321631026Monterrey3226243223231601027UNAM2535251623291531028Tijuana0018283421101689León00003316493410Pachuca25182628212013810211Toluca22212022341813710212Guadalajara22253015231613110213Chiapas25142627221713110214San Luis26212412151611410215Atlas13231220123211210216Atlante16271916201311110217Puebla19182219131911010218Querétaro19162612724104102Relegation Updated to games played on May 5, 2013Source: LigaMX.net – Estadística – Tabla General de Cociente
References
External links Official website of Liga MX Mediotiempo.com